Verizon Foundation awards $20,000 grant to Net Literacy program
Times Community Publishing
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry thanked the Verizon Foundation Thursday for its $20,000 grant that will help as many as 3,000 people have access to basic computer classes, Internet safety and online mentoring as part of the Fort Wayne Net Literacy program.
The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Corp.
“Computer and Internet literacy is vital today,” Henry said. “It enables students and adults to enhance their job and life skills. It allows seniors to communicate with family and friends, use e-commerce and participate in Web-enabled medical and health programs. Verizon is to be commended for its corporate philanthropy, which improves the lives of our citizens, now and tomorrow.”
Fort Wayne’s Net Literacy program creates computer labs in Fort Wayne Housing Authority and independent- and assisted-living facilities. It also loans or awards computers to local students and Twenty-first Century scholars.
Student volunteers will be sought from Fort Wayne schools, nonprofit organizations and other community organizations to teach the one-on-one sessions that will be scheduled to meet the timetables of the seniors.
Fort Wayne Net Literacy will conduct a city-wide computer drive where computers can be donated to the program. Any computers that cannot be refurbished to meet program standards would be disposed in an EPA-compliant manner, according to the Mayor.
Fort Wayne’s leadership has resulted in being selected as a Bring IT (Information Technology) Home America community by One Economy, a global nonprofit organization. One Economy uses innovative approaches to deliver the power of technology and information to low-income people, giving them valuable tools for building better lives.
